In a joint operation with the local Police, the London Borough of Bexley’s Trading Standards team recently seized 400 illegal single use vapes from a trader in the Broadway, Bexleyheath.
It has been illegal for businesses to sell or supply disposable single use vapes in the UK since June, under the Environmental Protection (single-use vapes) (England) Regulations 2024.
The ban was introduced to reduce environmental damage and help cut the number of children and young people vaping. The Council has now adopted a policy to enforce the powers under these Regulations, including the additional authority to issue fixed penalty notices and serve a ‘stop’ notice to those businesses who do not comply.
Retailers face a minimum of a £200 fine for selling single use vapes which can increase to an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison for repeated offenses.
Businesses selling illegal vapes or those that are specifically marketed to children can face significantly larger fines, with one retailer in London recently fined over £12,000 for selling non-compliant vapes and one to a minor and other businesses being fined over £5,000.
Only reusable vapes that have a rechargeable battery, replaceable coil and are refillable can be sold legally. Reuseable vapes have lithium-ion batteries and should never be placed in rubbish or recycling bins as they can get crushed or damaged and spark serious and dangerous fires in bin lorries and at Reuse and Recycling Centres.
In 2024 there were six fires in Bexley caused by hidden batteries or vapes incorrectly disposed of. Rechargeable vapes should be disposed of in either a retailers vape take back bin or they should be taken to our Reuse and Recycling Centres at Foots Cray or Thames Road for specialist handling.
Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Richard Diment said:
We take the safety and protection of our residents extremely seriously and will come down hard on anyone caught selling illegal vapes.
We will continue to work in partnership with the Police to prevent these dangerous vapes finding their way onto our streets and will ensure heavy fines and prosecutions are imposed were needed.”